I had to simplify the expression: -5exponent2(squared) I got the answer of 25 wrong. Why is that wrong?
was the problem written as
-(5^2) = -(25)= -25
where,
(-5^2) = 25
does the ^ mean squared? and there were No parentheses
yes, ^ means squared.
if no parentheses, I don't know why
I am not a tutor, maybe REINY or another tutor will answer
Try this:
-252 <~~ -25 < sup > 2 < /sup > (without the spaces)
The expression -5^2 can be interpreted in two ways:
1. As (-5)^2, which means squaring the number -5. In this case, you would calculate (-5) × (-5) = 25. This is the correct answer.
2. However, it can also be interpreted as -5 × 5, which is multiplying -5 by 5. In this case, you would get -25.
To avoid confusion, it's always recommended to use parentheses when dealing with negative exponents. This helps clarify whether you are squaring the negative number (-5^2) or squaring the positive number (5^2).